Time indicator



March 8, 1938. B. A. D. NYGREN TIME INDICATOR Filed Dec. 10, 1955 In l eni or Patented Mar. 8, 1938 UNITED; STATES PATENT orrics Application-December 10, 1935, Serial No. 53,823 ln Sweden December 13, 1934 7 Claims.

The present invention relates to a time indicator and particularly to a so called perpetual calendar having a flexible endless time-indication member provided with time marks in a continui ous order of sequence and a timed feeding device, such as roll or the like controlled by a clock, for feeding said member so that the marks provided thereon indicate corresponding points of time. The marks may preferably be made visible in a window or the like of the time indicator.

7 The invention has for its object to bring about a time indication member which covers a considerable period of time without being bulky. The invention consists substantially therein that the time indication member is disposed in a coil portion having more than one turn'and an intermediate or looped portion interconnecting the outermost andtheinnermostparts,or the beginning and the end respectively, of the coil portion so that 0 in the feeding the part Wound-ofi from the coil portion enters via the intermediate portion "the opposite part of the coil portion and is there Wound on; T 3

The invention will now be-more closely described with reference to the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 illustrates an-embodiment of the invention diagrammatically whereas Figures 2 to 4 show a practical embodiment of the invention in front view, side view, and a view from 0 below, respectively. Figure 5 shows a'modified detail.

In Figure 1 the character I, denotes the flexible time indication member, carrying time indicia, which here consists of a band. The band is'ar- 5 ranged in a coil portion 2 having more than one turn and an intermediate portion 3 which latter portion interconnects the innermost part 4 and the outermost part 5 of the coil portion. The intermediate portion 3 crosses the windings of the 3 coil portion 2 and forms a curved surface which entirely or in part deviates from the true cylindrical form. According to-well-known mathematical rules this surface must be of the so called developable-type, and may be a conical sur- 5 face. In this Way a certain twistingof the band is attained so that the band changes its direction in more than one plane and can pass outside the coil portion back to the opposite end thereof. Instead of arranging the coil in a flattened spiral it can, of course, also form a helix produced by winding the band on a real or imaginary cylinder while holding the band at an angle to the axis of the cylinder. The intermediate portion 3 cooperates close to the part 4 with a timed feeding 5 device, such as a roll 6. In the embodiment shown the time indication member is further twisted at l on the intermediate portion so that the band when entering the opposite part 5 of the coil is twisted half a turn in relation to the part 4. The member is provided with time marks which begin on the one side of the band, by way of example at the point 8, and continue on the band along its entire length on the one side of the band and thereupon, due to the twisting, on the opposite side of the band along its entire extension. In the operation of the feeding device 6 the part 4 is wound off fromthe coil portion and is brought via the intermediate portion 3 to the opposite part 5 of the coil portion and is wound more and more into the coil portion until it is again pulled out at the part 4 and continues its circulation. Through the twisting of the band half a turn between parts 4 and 5 it is possible to utilize both sides of the band so that after two complete circulations the entire period or cycle has been passed which is comprised by the time indicator. The embodiment shown in Figures 2 to 4 is adapted to be applied in a so-called perpetual calendar, i. e., a calendar which indicates the day and month correctly during an arbitrary number of cycles each covering four years. In the present instance the time indication member is made in the form of a band, the coil portion 9 of which is governed by a number of horizontal cylindrical rollers 10, ll, I2 which are rotatably disposed on a vertical plate l3. The intermediate portion is Wound off from the innermost part of the coil portion 9 by means of a conical take-off roller l4 and is then conducted on the inside of a vertical feeding roller [5 and on to its outside and further over a curved guide I6. I I While forming a substantially conical surface the band is then conducted at I! in a loop to the outermost part E8 of the coil portion. The intermediate portion is twisted half a turn between rollers l4 and "i 8 so that in rolling the band in the same direction of circulation first all the data indications on the one side of the band become visible and then all the marks on the opposite side of the band. In the shown embodiment the band is provided with perforations which engage teeth 20 provided on the feeding roller I5. This is connected to a clock work or the like by means of a pinion 22. The roller l5 may preferably be provided with a further separate band 23 carrying the names of the days in a week and participating in the movement of the date band. The week band 23 need then only comprise the seven days in a week and is otherwise disposed in a manner known in the art.

v that a section of the band is held in a plane According to a modified. embodiment shown in Figure 5 the feeding roller can be provided with a portion 24, 25 having a diameter suitable for the date band and a portion 26 having another diameter for the week band. In this way the two bands will be quite separate and different tooth pitches may be used for the two bands.

It will be noted that the feeding or driving roller I5 is so positioned that its axis is at right angles to the coiled portion of the band. The band, after leaving the driving roller is supported by the curved guide IS in such manner running parallel to the surface of the driving roller l5, that is, at right angles to the axis of the coiled portion of said band and in a position for displaying the time indicia indicated on said band. The looped portion of the band falls substantially within the confines of the cylindrical surface which is defined by the coiled portion of the band. This produces a very compact design which is especially adapted to be mounted in a clock, for example.

Instead of the band for the days of the week as shown on the drawing a special disc, cylinder or the like may be used for this purpose the rotation of the disc cylinder or the, like being controlled by a clock or the like.

The time indication member may also be provided with time marks only on its one side. In this case the beginning and the end of the coil portion are not mutually twisted. There is but a smaller degree of twisting when the member leaves the coil to enter the intermediate portion and a corresponding twisting in the opposite direction when the member leaves the intermediate portion and enters the opposite end of the coil; It is also possible to make the cross-section of the band prismatic if desired.

Although the invention is not limited hereto it has been proved to be particularly advantageous to select the feeding direction of the band in such a manner that the innermost part of the coil portion is wound-01f whereas the outermost part or the coil portion is wound-on in feeding. I

Various other changes which will now suggest themselves to those skilled in the art may be made in the details of construction without departing from the spirit of the invention. Reference is therefore to be made to the appended claims for a definition of the limits of the invention.

What is claimed is:-

1. In a time indicator suitablev to be driven by a clock, an endless flexible band carrying time indicia, having a coiled portion with a plurality of turns and a looped portion, said looped portion connecting the inner and outer turns of said coiled portion, a roller for driving said band, the axis of said roller being at right angles to the axis of said coiled portion, said looped portion being passed around and being driven by said roller, and a guiding member for holding a section of said looped portion in a plane, running parallel to the surface of said roller and at right angles to the axis of said coiled portion in a position for displaying said time indicia; said roller also supporting and driving a second endless band containing time indicia cooperating with those of said first endless band.

, 2. The time indicator of claim 1 wherein said driving roller is positioned adjacent one face of the coiled portion of said first band and wherein the entire looped portion of said band falls substantially within the confines of the cylindrical surface which is defined by said coiled portion.

, 3. The time indicator of claim 1 wherein said flexible band carries numerals representing days of the month and wherein said driving roller is provided witha section having a diameter different from that over which said first flexible band passes, said section carrying and serving to drive said second endless band bearing the names of the days of the week.

4. A time indicator comprising an endless flexible band carrying time indicia and having a coiled portion consisting of a plurality of turns and a looped portion, said looped portion connecting the inner and outer turns of said coiled portion, a roller for driving said band having an axis at right angles to the axis of said coiled portion, said roller engaging and driving said looped portion, a tapered take-off roller for guiding the band from the inner turn of said coiled portion to said driving roller and a curved guide for holding a section of said looped portion in a plane parallel to the surface of said driving roller and for guiding the same to the outer turn of said coiled portion.

5. The time indicator of claim 4 wherein said coiled portion of said band is supported on a plurality of guiding rollers and wherein said tapered take-off roller also bears against said coiled portion assisting to support the same.

6. In a time indicator suitable to be driven by a clock wherein an endless band carrying time indicia is provided having a coiled portion and a looped portion connecting the inner and outer turns of said coiled portion, the improvement which comprises a take-01f roller having a surface which is the section of a cone mounted inside said coiled portion and a driving roller having an axis perpendicular to the axis of said coiled portion mounted closelyadjacent the fact of said coiled portion, said take-01f roller serving to twistsaid band and to guide the same directly over said driving roller.

7. The time indicator of claim 6 wherein there is provided a curved guide, mounted adjacent said driving roller and across the face of the coiled portion of said band, adapted to support a portion of said band in a plane parallel to the surface of said driving roller for display purposes and to guide said band to the outer turn of said coiled portion in such manner that the entire looped portion of said band falls substantially within the confines of the cylindrical surface deflned by said coiledportion.

BROR, ARVID DANIEL NYGREN. 

